Debutants Israel shocked favorite Brazil 3-2 and advanced to the semi-finals of the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Argentina on Saturday, June 3.
The tense quarter-final encounter in San Juan featured extra-time goals and two penalty shots wasted by Israel, who will face Uruguay or the United States in the semi-finals.
After a scoreless first half, Marcos Leonardo netted first and Israel equalised with a header by Anan Khalaili four minutes later.
Matheus Nascimento made it 2-1 for Brazil in the first minute of extra time, but Hamza Shibi scored Israel’s second two minutes later from close range.
Dor David Turgeman scored the winner in the third minute of the second half of extra time after dribbling past two Brazilian defenders in the penalty box.
The debutants squandered two penalty kicks in the second half of extra time, which drew out the drama to fulltime.
“Israel was better than Brazil, we didn’t play our best match,” said midfielder Marlon Gomes, who played extra time while injured because Brazil couldn’t make substitutions.
“We couldn’t hold our lead in two different opportunities. We could have done better.”
Hours later, Italy did not suffer as much as they overcame Colombia 3-0 to advance.
Cesare Casadei, one of the top players of the tournament, scored with a header in the 9th minute. Tommaso Baldanzi added a second from close range in the 38th minute. Francesco Esposito made it 3-0 in the 46th minute.
Colombia reduced their deficit with a Jhojan Torres goal in the 49th minute from the edge of the box.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog Hail Israel
Israel, the perpetual underdogs who had never emerged victorious in a FIFA tournament, arrived in Argentina and astoundingly orchestrated one of the most remarkable upsets in the U20 World Cup’s 46-year history.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on cloud nine as his nation stunned Brazil in the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup.
President Isaac Herzog also hailed the “amazing game” and “huge victory,” telling the players: “You are bringing us much respect and pleasure these days with terrific team play and real sportsmanlike battle spirit.”
After the win, Turgeman dedicated the victory to three soldiers who were killed in an attack by an Egyptian policeman on the southern border earlier in the day.
“We went through a very difficult day with the news from Israel,” Turgeman said. “I dedicate this victory to the families of the victims. We were very pained by what happened.”
Israel barely reached the tournament’s stage of 16, starting the competition with a heartbreaking, last-minute defeat to Colombia in the first game and a lukewarm draw against Senegal in the second.
In the third and final group-stage match last week, the youth squad notched Israel’s first-ever win in any FIFA soccer World Cup, with a wild, come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Japan in stoppage time, finishing second in Group C and qualifying.
The Israelis will face either Uruguay or the United States in the semi-finals.
